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Discover the North: Top 7 Fascinating and Unique Facts About Yellowknife You Never Knew!

illustration of yellowknife
Discover the vibrant charm and fascinating quirks of Yellowknife, the northern gem that sparkles with its treasury of unexpected delights and whimsical facts.

1. Cosmic Light Show Capital

Not only can folks in Yellowknife 'paint with all the colors of the wind,' they can witness nature's very own cosmic light show: Yellowknife boasts about 240 nights of the aurora borealis per year, thanks to its prime location just south of the Arctic Circle, leaving visitors starstruck by this heavenly spectacle in their own backyard.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Land of Eternal Daylight

Forget the tanning salons and bring your sunscreen to the land of eternal daylight: Yellowknife boasts Canada's sunniest summer, luxuriating in an astonishing 1034 hours of sunlight between June and August, and up to 20 hours of daylight in June – although true darkness is swapped for moody twilight in certain months.
Source => midnightsunflyin.com

3. Aurora Borealis Boogie Zone

If the "Electric Slide" were a dance for ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere, Yellowknife would be the place to boogie down: Known as one of the best spots globally to view the Aurora Borealis, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories boasts 240 nights of active Northern Lights each year, thanks to its prime location within the Auroral Oval.
Source => spectacularnwt.com

4. Summer Hose Party Central

Who says you can't have a hose party every summer? Well, the local government of Yellowknife's Old Town might: This quirky locale has a summer switchover system that provides residents with unlimited water supply through surface water lines connected by hoses, while other city inhabitants rely on piped or trucked water. Unfortunately, these hose-tastic festivities could be ending after summer 2023 due to the challenges and costs of maintaining the infrastructure. It's a sad day for Hose-a-palooza enthusiasts!
Source => cabinradio.ca

City Named After Toothless Fish

5. City Named After Toothless Fish

Yellowknife, where even gold miners fear the toothless fish: This curious capital of the Northwest Territories earned its name from the Yellowknife River, christened after the Indigenous Dene people and their Wiiliideh tongue that translates to "toothless fish river." While gold mining kickstarted its development in the 1930s, the city's economy has sparkled with diamonds since the opening of the Ekati and Diavik mines in the '90s and 2000s.
Source => yellowknifehistory.com

6. Real-life Ice Palace Extravaganza

Who needs a fairy godmother when you have Yellowknife's frosty architects? Turns out, Cinderella's ice palace has nothing on this Arctic abode: The Snowkings' Winter Festival in Yellowknife celebrates its annual icy extravaganza by constructing a fabulous ice castle, complete with entertainment and frost-bound fun. This frosty spectacle takes place on Chief Drygeese Territory and is a major attraction, delighting visitors with its ice slide and live performances in the heart of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation's traditional homeland.
Source => snowking.ca

7. Exclusive Social Distancing Ski Resort

While most people dream of hitting the slopes at Aspen or Whistler, true powder pioneers opt for a lesser-known gem where social distancing comes naturally – say hello to the exclusive Bristol Pit Club: Located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, this small-but-mighty ski resort spans just 0.3 km and features a single lift, with an elevation range of 185-200m. Operating limited hours during the week, adult day tickets are a mere C$20 – making this budget-friendly option a delightful destination for skiing and snowboarding aficionados.
Source => skiresort.info

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